From chickadees to woodpeckers and orioles and from ants to bears, Margaret Robbins discussed ways to welcome some of the many bird species to the backyard while providing ways to animal- and insect-proof feeders from culprits of all sizes during “Bonding With Birds,” hosted by The Garden Club of Newtown at C.H. Booth Library on February 26.

Ms Robbins, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Brookfield, spoke for about an hour, fielding occasional questions from some of the 30-plus audience members during the Garden Club’s monthly meeting in the library’s Meeting Room.

It takes more than just sprinkling bird seed to attract birds.

“There are a number of ways. Feeding is just one way,” said Ms Robbins before explaining that habitat is also crucial for making a feathered friend feel welcomed (and safe).

“Habitat is extremely important. And for some birds, like Bluebirds, that’s the only way you’ll welcome them to your yard,” she said. “By making a few changes in your yard, you can actually welcome a few different types of birds.”

The first step is to decide what type or types of birds one would like to see. Some species, such as chickadees, nest in small cavities, so the appropriate bird house is necessary, she said.

“You’ve never seen anything cuter in your life than a two- or three-day old Chickadee,” Ms Robbins said.

Predator guards are available for bird houses and can be helpful for deterring predators such as raccoons — which are the biggest problems for cavity-nesting birds, she said.

Bird houses should be spread out, 25 or 30 feet apart, with four on the average one-acre lot — two in the front and two in back — Ms Robbins advised.

“If you have a tree that dies, don’t take all of it down. It will become a food source or house for something,” she suggested.

Brush piles are great places for some birds, as it provides a food source after insects lay eggs to overwinter, but brush piles need to be left far from the house, since they also attract rodents, Ms Robbins warned.

In addition to providing the proper habitat, the right food must be offered. Just like native plants do better, food that birds recognize is essential, Ms Robbins explained.

The freshness of seeds is essential, and some types of seeds will not keep for more than a few months. Bird lovers must check for the date the seeds were packaged, as birds will turn their beaks up at old seeds. Although birds do not rely on smell and taste buds to decipher what is best for their diets, they do recognize through vision whether or not seeds are fresh.

“The fresher the seed, the more UV light it gives out,” Ms Robbins said.

Some birds will snub sunflower seeds and go for the peanuts she leaves out, Ms Robbins mentioned, because the birds know there is more protein and fat to be found in peanuts. She has birds at home that follow her around waiting for peanuts. Birds recognize faces and will befriend those that feed them, Ms Robbins commented.

“A chickadee can lose almost all of its body weight of stored fat in one night,” said Ms Robbins, adding that it is essential for these birds to consume enough of the right food to survive the next day. “They have to be very specialized.”

Winter, especially late winter until spring — or now — is the best time for man to help feed bird, Ms Robbins said — the reason being that there is no natural food source available, and that which was available has run out.

Hummingbirds and orioles will be here in mid-April, said Ms Robbins, adding that before investing in a bird house, one way to test out whether or not they might visit your yard is to slice an orange in half, scrape out the inside, nail the husk to a branch, and fill with grape jelly.

Solving Feeder Problems

There are different types of feeders that serve different purposes and thus different species of birds.

“Hoppers are great feeders for pretty much every bird. They store a lot and are easy to fill,” Ms Robbins said. “Don’t be surprised to see different types of birds at your feeder that you haven’t seen before.”

Wrens, warblers, and others may visit.

Tube-style feeders are ideal for birds that perch. And some have an accessory that keeps the elements from damaging bird seed.

“Weather guards are really worth their weight in gold. It keeps the rain and snow out of your food,” Ms Robbins said.

Some things to look for in a feeder: “Ease of cleaning, no leaking, and no yellow. What does yellow attract?” she asked the audience.

“Bees,” seemingly everyone replied.

Nectar attracts hummingbirds and woodpeckers — and ants, making ant guards important. Ms Robbins suggests combining four parts water with one part sugar to attract these long beak birds. It is essential to clean out the nectar every three, four, or five days in cooler weather and every two days in warmer weather because of it evaporating or rotting.

“Birds can get drunk. It will ferment,” Ms Robbins warned.

An audience member asked about woodpeckers doing damage to homes, and Ms Robbins said they are not going for insects in the wood but, rather, letting others know this is their territory.

One of the audience members asked about how to discourage bears.

“We do have a bear-proof feeder. It’s bear proof in that they can’t destroy it. It’s heavy; it weighs about 20 pounds,” Ms Robbins said of a feeder offered at her store and noting that bears still may eat the bird food.

Hot pepper seed, which Ms Robbins said birds do not taste and which has been found can actually help their digestive systems, will turn off bears.

“The other thing you can do is put your feeders in at night, and that’s recommended. But the problem is the bears haven’t read the book. They do come during the day,” Ms Robbins said lightheartedly.

Ms Robbins suggests clustering a few feeders together rather than spacing them out. In some instances, male birds will claim one feeder while allowing a female and younger birds to have their own supply.

Water is necessary to attract birds, and there are devices that keep the water moving to prevent mosquito breeding, Ms Robbins said. Bird baths are nice, but heated dog bowls are a cost-effective way to keep the birds coming and prevent ice from forming throughout the winter. Adding rocks to the bath can help attract birds, one of the attendees noted. Ms Robbins concurred, saying that birds cannot tell how deep the water is and might be more apt to bathe if they see tops of rocks at the surface.

Pesticides, of course, not only discourage birds but also can be harmful to them, Ms Robbins said.

But there is one rather unusual, unnatural way to manage your flying guests. Some birds, such as cardinals, will see their reflection in the window and attack the reflection, thinking it is a competing male bird. Applying soap to the outside of the glass to dull the shine/ distort the reflection will alleviate this problem, Ms Robbins said.

Ms Robbins is an avid birder with a life list of more than 475 different species. She has taken bird biology classes at Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology, an animal behavior course, and has taught bird biology, nesting, bird-feeding, and identification classes. Before opening her store, she was employed by National Audubon Society at their Greenwich location and also led Audubon birding cruises along the New England Coast and Baja, Mexico. Ms Robbins now leads local bird walks in the greater Danbury area and birding tours to southeast Arizona.

“It was absolutely excellent. Her knowledge, with the background from the Audubon Society was so much appreciated. You want to hear the truth,” Garden Club attendee Connie Huebner said. “I’m really glad that I came. I’m relatively new to birding.”